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Friday, December 26

Some of us are fortunate to have one or both parents still with us, for them and the rest, the following is a timely reminder. We may not really appreciate that none of us are gaurenteed for tomorrow, so to hope that this doesn't or won't affect us is a situation similar to the mouse that closes his eyes when a hungry cat stands before it....

SubhanAllah - probably one of the hardest things to think about is the thought of loosing someone dear to you... or seeing them suffer through illness...many people find these are the moments they loose faith and think "why me?" or "why us?", few accept it as the will and decree of Allah and remain steadfast, patient and hopeful that this mountain of a test will soon be conquered inshaAllah...I've been there - so I'd like to share the following in the hope that you too may benefit today, or tomorrow from this advice....

If they are still with you, ask for forgiveness regularly, the last thing you want is for that seed of regret to remain planted in your heart forever as a painful torment and reminder or what passed...never hold a grudge, life is short - and you and I don't have a gaurentee who will be next, who won't be...give them everything you have in terms of respect, time, love, care and be with them in their sickness, in their happiness and in their despair...

These times may seem long, may seem hard, but if you haven't felt the loss, your in for the greatest of shocks ...

When they're gone, it's easy to say but "Sabr" is the one thing you have to have - if you don't have it - you have to find it...you see the tears can't fall forever...sooner or later your Emaan kicks in - you realise - you wake up ... and that is when you have to swallow that bitter pill, smile and remember the good times, be grateful to Allah and really start to do things for them....

Read the below to find out what you can do inshaAllah....from the smallest act of implementing something they taught you, and making dua'a for them...to building a well or making Hajj on their behalf...

Really, they're not wrong...you don't know what you've got till it's gone...but why look in despair when it has - isn't that too late... implement the following (see below) today...no matter what your position, and I pray that Allah will reunite you in Jannah, and grant you and them the mercy and forgiveness we all long for. InshaAllah....

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Allaah says in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):“And that man can have nothing but what he does (good or bad)”[al-Najm 53:39]And Allaah knows best. Al-Muntaqa, 2/161

With regard to parents in particular, Islam regards the son as a source of his father’s earning good deeds. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The good deeds that will reach a believer after his death are:

knowledge which he learned and then spread;

a righteous son whom he leaves behind;

a copy of the Qur’aan that he leaves as a legacy;

a mosque that he built;

a house that he built for wayfarers;

a canal that he dug;

or charity that he gave during his lifetime when he was in good health.

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) was asked:What are the deeds that will benefit one’s parents, whether they are alive or dead?He replied: These deeds are: honouring them when they are alive, treating them kindly in word and deed, taking care of their needs for maintenance, accommodation and other things, feeling happy to be with them, speaking nicely to them and serving them, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents”[al-Isra’ 17:23]especially when they grow old.

AND WHEN THEY ARE GONE...

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three:

sadaqah jaariyah (ongoing charity, e.g. a waqf or endowment),

beneficial knowledge (which he has left behind),

or a righteous child who will pray for him."

(Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no 1376; he said this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth)

ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS....

Prayers for forgiveness offered by both sons and daughters of the deceased bring great benefits, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"A man’s status will be raised in Paradise and he will ask, ‘How did I get here?’ He will be told, ‘By your son’s du’aa’s (prayers) for forgiveness for you."

(Reported by Ibn Maajah, no 3660; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1617)

GIVE CHARITY...

Another thing that may reach the deceased is sadaqah (charity) given on his behalf, because ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) reported that a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):

"My mother has passed away, and if she could have spoken, she would have given something in charity. Will she receive a reward if I give something on her behalf?" He said, "Yes."

(Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, 1388)

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the mother of Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) died when he was away from her. He said:

"O Messenger of Allaah, my mother has died and I am away from her. Will it benefit her anything if I give in charity on her behalf?" He said, "Yes." He said, "Then I ask you to be my witness that I am giving my garden al-Mikhraaf (so called because it bore so many dates) in charity on her behalf."

(Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, 2756)

Abu Hurayrah reported that a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "My father has died and left money behind. He did not make a wasiyyah (a will); will it expiate for his sins if I give some of it in charity on his behalf?" He said, "Yes."

(Reported by al-Nisaa’i)

PROVIDE WATER....THE BEST KIND OF CHARITY...

Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah said: "I said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, my mother has died. Should I give charity on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ I asked, ‘What kind of charity is best?’ He said, ‘Providing water.’"

(Reported by al-Nisaa’i)

PERFORMING HAJJ/UMRAH and FASTING...

Other deeds that may also benefit the deceased are Hajj and ‘Umrah on their behalf, after the living person has first performed Hajj and ‘Umrah on his or her own behalf.

‘Abdullaah ibn Buraydah reported that his father (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

"While I was sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), a woman came to him and said: ‘I gave my mother a slave-woman in charity, and now my mother has died.’ He said: ‘You have got your reward, and your right of inheritance has brought your gift back to you.’ She said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, she still had one month to fast – can I fast it on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Fast it on her behalf.’ She said, ‘She never went to Hajj – can I perform Hajj on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Perform Hajj on her behalf.’"

(Reported by Muslim, may Allaah have mercy on him, in his Saheeh, no. 1149)

This shows that it is also permissible to fast on behalf of the deceased. Another thing that may benefit the deceased is to fulfil their nadhr (vow), because Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that a woman came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said:

"My mother made a vow to perform Hajj but she died before she could do it. Can I perform Hajj on her behalf?" He said, "Yes, perform Hajj on her behalf. Don’t you think that if your mother owed a debt you would pay it off?" She said, "Yes." He said, "Then pay off what is owed to Allaah, for Allaah is more deserving of having vows fulfilled."

(al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 7315)

SACRIFICE....

Another thing that may benefit the deceased is if his relative devotes a share to him of a sacrifice he offers. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) offered a sacrifice, he said:

"In the name of Allaah, O Allaah, on behalf of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad" (reported by Muslim, no. 1967)

Thursday, December 25

Yes exactly....Xmas does not equal Eid, and incase some Muslims have been sleeping for the past few weeks, Eid was on the 7th of December 2008.

Okay so year on year it amazes me to see more and more of the Muslim community "joining in the festivities"....so I'd like to share the following for the benefit of those that do that, and those that claim they don't know, and well....those that simply know and pretend they don't do it for that reason..

REMEMBER

.انّا للہ و انّا الیہ راجعون

"We are for Allah and to Him we shall return"

- so when you sit down to "xmas dinner" or invite over your family to dinner

ask yourself what religion are u again?

is that the answer you will give when you are questioned in the grave?

What's the justification for you doing such actions and giving such value to a festival that doesn't belong to you or your religion? Is that the answer you will give on the day of reckoning?

May Allah guide myself and all of you....and protect us from the lure of shaytaan, our nafs and the material world - Ameen.

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I see many "Muslims" joining in Christmas and other celebrations. Is there any daleel from the Quran and Sunnah that I can present to them to show that these are indeed very sinful practices?.Praise be to Allaah.It is not permissible to join in the kaafir festivals for the following reasons:Firstly: because this entails imitating or resembling them, and “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood). This is a serious warning. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-‘Aas said: Whoever lives in the land of the mushrikeen and celebrates their Nawrooz (New Year) and their Mahrajaan (festivals), and imitates them until he dies, he will be a loser on the Day of Resurrection.Secondly: taking part in their festivals is a kind of befriending them and showing love for them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Awliyaa’ (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Awliyaa’ of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa’), then surely, he is one of them… “[al-Maa’idah 5:51]“O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e. disbelievers and polytheists) as friends, showing affection towards them” [al-Mumtahanah 60:1]Thirdly: festivals are the matter of religion and beliefs, not the matter of worldly customs, as is indicated by the hadeeth: “Every nation has its Eid, and this is our Eid.” Their Eid or festival reflects their corrupt beliefs of Kufr and Shirk.Fourthly: “And those who do not witness falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass it by with dignity” [al-Furqaan 25:72 – interpretation of the meaning]. The scholars interpreted this aayah was referring to the festivals of the mushrikeen. It is not permissible to give any of them cards for their festivals, or to sell them cards or any of the other things they need for their festivals such as lights, trees or food – including turkey, candy canes, etc.------------

Is it permissible to attend the celebrations of Christian festivals and congratulate them?

Praise be to Allaah.Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: it is not permissible for the Muslims to attend the festivals of the mushrikeen, according to the consensus of the scholars whose words carry weight. The fuqaha’ who follow the four schools of thought have stated this clearly in their books… Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab that he said:“Do not enter upon the mushrikeen in their churches on the day of their festival, for divine wrath is descending upon them.” And ‘Umar also said: “Avoid the enemies of Allaah on their festivals.”

Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a jayyid isnaad from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr that he said: “Whoever settles in the land of the non-Arabs and celebrates their new year and festival and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah, 1/723-724).

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What is the ruling on eating food prepared for a Christian festival? What is the ruling on accepting their invitation to their celebrations of the birth of the Messiah (peace be upon him) [i.e., Christmas celebrations]?Praise be to Allaah.It is not permissible to celebrate innovated festivals such as the Christmas of the Christians, or Nowrooz (Persian New Year) or Mahrajaan (Persian festival), or festivals that have been innovated by Muslims such as the Prophet’s birthday in Rabee’ al-Awwal or the Israa’ in Rajab and so on. It is not permissible to eat from that food which the Christians or Mushrikeen prepare on the occasion of their festivals. It is also not permissible to accept their invitations to join them in their celebrations of those festivals, because this encourages them and is tantamount to approving of their bid’ah, which gives the wrong idea to ignorant people and makes them think that there is nothing wrong with that. And Allaah knows best

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Is it permissible for Muslims to take part in their festivals, such as Christmas?Praise be to Allaah.It is not permissible for the Muslim to join the kuffaar in their festivals and to express joy and happiness on these occasions, or to take the day off work, whether the occasion is religious or secular, because this is a kind of imitating the enemies of Allaah, which is forbidden, and a kind of co-operating with them in falsehood. It was proven that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):“Help you one another in Al‑Birr and At‑Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment”[al-Maa'idah 5:2]We advise you to refer to the book Iqtidaa’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him), for it is very useful on this topic. [Translator’s note: This book is available in English under the title “The Right Way,” published by Darussalam, Riyadh].And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

May Allah protect you all from the practices that displease Allah - and guide us all to those practices that Allah has prescribed for us, that Allah is pleased with, and that strengthen our deen and emaan. Ameen.